By SYLVESTER MWALE –

PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu is confident of setting a strong foundation to prepare the Patriotic Front (PF) for the 2016 general elections after scooping all three parliamentary seats in Tuesday’s by-elections.
The PF has won in Mulobezi, Petauke Central and Malambo where it fielded Patricia Mulasikwanda, Dora Siliya and Jacob Shuma respectively, bringing the total number of its seats in Parliament to 81.
“The victory is neither mine nor the PF’s alone. It is a victory of the people of Zambia that have continued to show us immense support as the ruling party. I congratulate all PF members for the job well done. To the opposition, let me say thank you for putting up a good run but better luck next time,” President Lungu said.
The President said yesterday in a statement to toast the victory, that the poll results demonstrated that Zambians had rejected regionalism and tribal politics as they believed in the motto, ‘One Zambia, One Nation’.
He said in a statement issued by his Special Assistant for Press and Public Relations Amos Chanda that the victory also demonstrated the confidence Zambians have in the ruling party.
He said the ruling party would not take the confidence shown by the people for granted and urged party supporters to be magnanimous in victory, while those that had lost should be gracious in defeat.
Zambians would always choose their leaders in a free and fair atmosphere, a situation that characterised the campaigns save for a few incidents.
He congratulated the UPND for winning a local government seat in Mulobezi Constituency.
He said while the elections had been free and fair, there were some individuals in Mulobezi that wanted to stand in the way of democracy by exhibiting intolerance ahead of the polls.
The results had demonstrated that Zambians were ready to dismantle any regionally based political strongholds, because that kind of politics negates the gains of the country’s democracy, freedom and unity.
“As President, I will continue to champion national unity across tribe, political, religious and all other affiliations because this is why you elected me,” he said.
“There is no north-Westerner, southerner, westerner, northerner or easterner, there is only One Zambia, One Nation, we are all Zambians…that is our tribe!”
He said the outcome of the polls was a reminder to those who sought to sow seeds of discord by spreading falsehoods and hate-speech that the goodwill of the people would always triumph.
“We have won seats in two important regions that some narrow-minded individuals would want to consider as opposition strongholds. Zambians will not fall for falsehoods because this country has cherished unity for the past 50 years and will continue to do so,” he said.
He said there was nothing of incremental value to the nation about sheer malice, hatred and petty jealousies and that the PF would continue to develop Zambia and improving the lives of the citizens.